Carnivalists put on make up during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

Carnivalists put on make up during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

Photo: Martin Meissner, AP

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A so-called Federahannes, a carnivalist of the tradiotal Swabian carnival, jumps with a stick during a parade in Rottweil, southwestern Germany, on Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. (Patrick Seeger/dpa via AP)

A so-called Federahannes, a carnivalist of the tradiotal Swabian carnival, jumps with a stick during a parade in Rottweil, southwestern Germany, on Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. (Patrick Seeger/dpa via AP)

A float depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel as black widow with the skulls of former opponents in front and the writing "Next one please" during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. less

A float depicts German Chancellor Angela Merkel as black widow with the skulls of former opponents in front and the writing "Next one please" during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, ... more

Photo: Martin Meissner, AP

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A float depicts Merkel's challenger in last year's election Martin Schulz put himself into a mincer during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

A float depicts Merkel's challenger in last year's election Martin Schulz put himself into a mincer during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

A so-called Federahannes, a reveler of the traditional Swabian carnival, jumps with a stick during a parade in Rottweil, southwestern Germany, on Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. (Patrick Seeger/dpa via AP)

A so-called Federahannes, a reveler of the traditional Swabian carnival, jumps with a stick during a parade in Rottweil, southwestern Germany, on Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. (Patrick Seeger/dpa via AP)

Photo: Patrick Seeger, AP

Image 11 of 13

A float depicts British Prime Minister Theresa May looking at her Brexit-baby during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

A float depicts British Prime Minister Theresa May looking at her Brexit-baby during the traditional Rose Monday parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, Shrove Monday, Feb. 12, 2018.

The Cologne parade was shortly interrupted in the afternoon when three people were injured, German news agency dpa reported. They were in a carriage and the horses pulling it bolted, dpa said.

All over the region, schools were closed on Shrove Monday — the pre-Lenten celebration that precedes Ash Wednesday — so children could attend the parades featuring floats, brass bands and dance groups throwing candy, chocolates and flowers to spectators.

The costly, intricately built floats often feature huge, unflattering puppets of politicians, making fun of those in power.

Among the most daring floats was one with a naked U.S. President Donald Trump in the claws of a gigantic brown bear with the slogan "Russia scandal" written across his side.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was depicted as a black widow spider with blood-covered lips killing all her male competitors — whose names were written across little grey skulls lying in front of her.

In Duesseldorf, the Jewish community participated with its own float for the first time, depicting the famously snarky German-Jewish author Heinrich Heine, who was born in the city.